The Crazy Ways Antiperspirant Messes With Your Health

It’s time to take a closer look at what you’re swiping under your arms. Here’s why: You’re wearing it 24/7—even if you shower daily. The effects of roll-on, stick, and spray antiperspirant lasted through tests of stress, physical exertion, and heat a full 48 hours after application, according to a recent German study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.

How is that even possible? The active ingredients don’t just sit on top of your skin. Unlike deodorants, which simply mask odor, antiperspirants stop sweat at its source. They work because aluminum passes through the skin into sweat glands, which swell shut, effectively blocking moisture.

So depending on the kind you choose, you could be keeping your underarms stocked with a steady flow of potentially hazardous chemicals. Here are the 7 worst offenders you need to avoid.

Triclosan, an antimicrobial agent that serves as an active ingredient in many antiperspirants, affects the way your thyroid hormones regulate gene expression, according to a study in Aquatic Toxicology. Even personal care product giant Proctor & Gamble is wary of this hormone disrupting ingredient; the company just announced plans to phase it out by 2014. (Other than swapping antiperspirants, here's how else you can avoid triclosan.)

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BHT and Parabens

Two other hormone disruptors, preservatives BHT and parabens, aren’t found in all antiperspirants, but check your labels—these so-called “environmental estrogens” mimic the effects of your body’s own estrogen, affecting normal hormone function in the body. “Environmental estrogens wreak havoc even at incredibly low levels,” says Peter Dingle, PhD, an environmental scientist and consultant toxicologist based in Australia. “They seem to be able to disrupt the whole reproductive cycle.” (Click here to learn the other common places hormone disruptors hide in your home.)

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Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde, a preservative component common in roll-on antiperspirants, is a known to cause cancer in humans, according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ report on carcinogens. Still, it’s generally permitted in personal care products if the amount doesn’t exceed 0.074%. Disconcerting in something you wear daily, yes, but a minor source of formaldehyde in the larger scheme of things. “There is formaldehyde in the air, in glues, in building woods, etcetera,” says Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst for the Environmental Working Group. “Your exposure is coming from a lot of different sources.” Since you can't exactly control the air you breathe, it makes sense to avoid formaldehyde when you can, as in, swapping out your roll-on.

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Steareths

Another class of ingredients, steareths are often contaminated with 1,4 dioxane during the manufacturing process, which the EPA calls a probable human carcinogen. Again, antiperspirants aren’t the sole culprit—lotions, scrubs, and oils, also often contain steareths. Since there’s no way to tell what quality of steareths you’re getting, it’s best to steer clear from them altogether when you see them on the label.

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Allergens

The term “fragrance” is protected by trade secret laws, so companies don’t have to give any information about what’s in it. “It’s easy for companies to hide ingredients they don’t want on the label under this category,” Lunder says. This lack of transparency not only prevents you from pinpointing the culprit if you have an allergic reaction, but can also keep you from spotting questionable scent components like hormone-disrupting synthetic musks and phthalates.

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Aluminum

Infamous active ingredient aluminum is another possible irritant if your skin is sensitive. Even if you don’t have issues, its sweat-blocking function still traps waste in your body. “The reason you have pores is to get rid of all the toxins that accumulate in your body,” Dr. Dingle says. “The lymph glands are the upper body’s clean-up system, and they drain into the armpit—it’s like getting the rubbish dumped at the end of your street.” Sweat, like it or not, is good for your health.

But if you're not willing to go au naturel, try a natural option that keeps serious body odor away without blocking your natural detoxing functions. We like Lavanila’s The Healthy Deodorant stick ($14, amazon.com) and Weleda’s deodorant spray ($9, amazon.com), which will keep you fresh and worry-free.

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